National Dog Day is a day that celebrates all breeds, pure and mixed, and is meant to remind the public of the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year from shelters and rescues.

This national day was created in 2004 by Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist who wanted to show appreciation for all dogs and to honor those who work in the community to help save lives, keeping us safe and out of harm’s way.

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday with your furry friend. You can take them to the dog park to play with other dogs, buy them a new toy or take them to the dog spa for a day of relaxation. If you aren’t a dog owner, you can still celebrate by volunteering at your local shelter and taking some of the dogs on walks or assisting with cleaning the animal’s cages.

If you do not get to spend as much time as you would like with your animal companion, take this day to reconnect with your furry family member. Be sure to also consider ways you can help animals in our society and remember the importance of dogs in our lives.

For more information on how you can help dogs in Illinois Click Here

Gina Perillo is the August Artist of the Month. Perillo lives in Washington, Illinois. That’s also where she runs Perillo Art Studio. Perillo is a painter who mainly uses acrylic paint.

How long have you been an artist or when did you start? Was there a single incident or moment when you realized this was your passion? If so, tell us about it.

I have always had a love for art ever since I was little. I received my bachelor’s in Art Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and during my junior year I took a mixed media painting class. During this class I learned how to create abstract pieces - this was the moment I truly fell in love with painting and knew I wanted to pursue a career as an artist.

Illinois has been factored into your work in the past. What does being able to live and work in Illinois mean to you?

I love being close to Chicago and having access to such wonderful galleries and of course the Art Institute of Chicago.

What opportunities does Illinois present for local artists?

Art galleries, art festivals, and communities who support their local artists are some of the best opportunities in Illinois.

What do you like about Illinois?

I paint a lot of seascapes, but I LOVE Illinois corn fields! The farm land is beautiful.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Acrylic is my medium of choice. I use it for all of my pieces. I like that it dries quickly, and I am able to layer easily.

Where can people view and purchase your work?

People can view or purchase my work on my personal websites www.GinaPerillo.com and www.GPerillo.Etsy.com. I am also on Houzz.

What artist inspires you and why?

I could make a long list of well-known artists who have inspired me... Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Klimt… The list goes on and on. With that being said, I do feel I am also inspired by many fellow artists. Artists who are juggling life as a parent/spouse and making a living doing what they love. I enjoy following other artists’ Instagram accounts and being able to relate.

Chicago is known for its signature deep-dish pizza. Now, the city is home to the pop-up U.S. Pizza Museum.

The museum opened last week at the Roosevelt Collection, the mixed-use development in Chicago’s South Loop, and is scheduled through the end of October. If there is enough interest, organizers say they will consider extending the engagement.

It’s open on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free to all ages, but an online reservation is required for timed entry. The first wave of tickets is available now.

Founded by Kendall Bruns, the museum showcases pizza art, pizza-themed clothing, pizzeria menus, pizza ads, pizza toys, pizza-themed magnets and pizza books.

Throughout the summer, the U.S. Pizza Museum and the Roosevelt Collection will partner to offer events and activities such as dough-making demonstrations, pizza parties and book signings.

Visitors can make online reservations for timed entry here.

The 160^th Illinois State Fair kicks off with the Twilight parade on Thursday, Aug. 9.

It runs from Thursday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 19, at the fairgrounds in Springfield.

This year, the State Fair will be celebrating Illinois’ bicentennial. In 200 years, the fair has changed in many ways, but it continues to attract people from all over the state and country.

Admission:
The admission charge at the fair is $10 for adults 13 and older and free for children 12 and under.

Attractions:

• The Dairy Building: This is where the famous Butter Cow resides during the fair. It takes about 500 pounds of unsalted butter to sculpt the cow, which has been a tradition since the 1920s.

• Conservation World: This area features a number of free and unique attractions, including fishing clinics, youth archery and BB gun ranges, dog demonstrations, a rock climbing wall and a lumberjack show.

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Kas King of Belleville is the July artist of the month. He’s a painter who mainly uses acrylics and spray paint.

How long have you been an artist or when did you start? Was there a single incident or moment when you realized this was your passion? If so, tell us about it.

I’ve been creating my entire life. I started painting all of three years ago! The moment I knew was when I gave up my love for sports to take on my artistry during high school.

Illinois has been factored into your work in the past. What does being able to live and work in Illinois mean to you? 

Up until the age of 27, Illinois is all I’ve ever known. With Chicago and the Metro East being such a major art hubs, the arts are more vibrant than ever.

What opportunities does Illinois present for local artists?

What Illinois offers is a place where artists can find themselves eventually branching out and bringing those influences back.

What do you like about Illinois?

What I like most about Illinois is that it’s literally in the center of the country; we have the opportunity to take influence from either coast.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

My favorite medium would be acrylics and spray paint.

Where can people view and purchase your work?

With my website not being complete, I am available as Kas King on Facebook. You can like my Magnify Art Gallery page for updates with shows and events at my gallery. I am also on Instagram at BlakkBobbRoss.

What artist inspires you and why?

Bob Ross, Jean Michel Basquiat, KAWS, King Saladeen and Alec Monopoly inspire me. Each of these artists single-handedly blazed their own paths into being household names within the art world.